China holds 1st international micro-film fest

If time isn't often your friend, but you enjoy a flick to carry your mind away, keep your eyes peeled for this one. Micro films, as the name suggests, are short films that run for a few minutes to half an hour.

This genre has enjoyed increasing popularity among Chinese viewers in the past few years, giving feature-length movies a run for their money. And the trend continues to gain momentum as China holds its first international microfilm festival.

Filmmaking used to be the privilege of elite professionals, but not anymore. With a small budget, a microfilm can be completed in a few weeks -- ordinary people can make their movie dreams come true. The works don't appear in theaters but are streamed on video sites and social networks.

With the spread of social media websites, the unique genre has gained ground in recent years.

Professor Jiang Shixiong with Beijing Film Academy said, "In a fast-paced society, our time spent on relaxation is very fragmented and limited. It's not as feasible to sit through a two-hour film. However, a microfilm has the twists and turns a feature film has but lasts only a few minutes."

Under the theme of "Chinese Dream", China's first international microfilm festival aims to enhance the development of microfilms, and reward good works in the circle.

Wei Minghe, executive director of China Micro-film Association, said, "Ideas and screenplays are crucial to microfilms. The film must tell a good story in limited time. It's really not an easy task."

The Festival was initiated in May. More than 30 works have been shortlisted for the top awards. They were selected from more than ten thousand entries. Renowned Chinese director Lu Chuan is among the jury.